August 22nd, the first year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty.

The valiant Khan Moyanchuo of the Uyghur Khanate and 107 members of the royal family sacrificed their lives for their country, refusing to surrender to the Arab Empire that was conquering the east. At the cost of the lives of the royal family, they fulfilled their oath to regard the Tang Dynasty as the suzerain state of the Uyghurs.

Lukes, the young prime minister of the Uyghur Khanate, was entrusted by the valiant Khan on his deathbed to lead dozens of loyal ministers of the Uyghur Khanate to flee east to the Tang Dynasty before the capital, Harabalgas, was breached. They sought the protection of Princess Bilge of the Uyghur Khanate, who is now the Imperial Noble Consort Yue Qiluo of the Tang Dynasty, with the intention of seeking the help of the Tang Dynasty to restore the country.

Millions of Uyghurs were forced to flee their homes and go into exile under the iron hooves of the Arab Empire's eastward expedition. In the vast Gobi Desert and mountains of the Western Regions, displaced Uyghurs could be seen everywhere.

On the same day, Chen Huai'an, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, led hundreds of thousands of Tang troops to occupy the capital of the Uyghurs and temporarily acted as the "Heavenly Khan" to govern the Uyghur state.

The next day.

The Tang Dynasty's champion marquis Huo Qubing, the marquis of Zhenxi Guo Dingfang, and the marquis of Changxin Zuo Liangcai, each leading their respective Tang reinforcements, gathered in the Uyghur capital of Harabalgas.

Lukes, the Uyghur prime minister who was entrusted by the mighty Khan on his deathbed to lead the Uyghur Khanate's exiled regime eastward to the Tang Dynasty, also returned to the capital palace at the summons of the Heavenly Khan Chen Huai'an.

After a night of cleanup, the Uyghur royal palace, which was originally littered with corpses and stained with blood, has been restored to a clean and tidy state.

Only the arrow holes on the beams of the royal palace and the dark red bloodstains in the nooks and crannies silently testify to the brutal ravages of war that this place once endured.

Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty, dressed in golden armor and with a Longquan sword at his waist, walked step by step through the palace hall under the watchful eyes of the Tang generals and marquises standing on both sides of the palace hall and the surviving civil and military officials of the Uyghur Khanate, and ascended the throne that symbolized the highest and most complete throne of the Uyghur Khanate.

After Chen Huai'an took his seat, he issued his first imperial edict since taking control of the Uyghur palace: "The valiant Khan of the Uyghur Khanate, Moyanchuo, was the ruler of a vassal state of the Great Tang Dynasty. He sacrificed his life to uphold the national dignity and honor of the Great Tang Dynasty, and his merits are unparalleled. I remember him with deep gratitude."

"However, Heaven did not grant him a long life; he passed away at a young age. I have lost a pillar of my state, and my heart is filled with grief. The loyalty and bravery of the valiant Khan to the Tang Dynasty are etched in history and will be passed down to future generations."

"I believe their meritorious deeds should be publicized to comfort their loyal souls and inspire future generations."

"Now, we hereby posthumously confer upon Moyanchuo, the valiant and heroic Khan of the Uyghurs, the title of Western King of the Great Tang Dynasty, with the rank of Grand General of the Palace, concurrently holding the titles of Grand Minister of State and Pillar of the State, the posthumous title of 'Heroic and Martial,' and the honorary title of having his tablet placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. His descendants shall inherit the title and forever enjoy the imperial favor of the Great Tang Dynasty."

"May all the subjects of the Uyghur Khan take the valiant Khan as their role model..."

Chen Huai'an was generous in praising Mo Yanchuo, the heroic Uyghur Khan who died for his country, posthumously granting him the title of Prince of the Tang Dynasty, the suzerain state, and allowing his descendants to inherit the title.

Of course, this was also Chen Huai'an's way of laying the groundwork for the Tang Dynasty's full-scale takeover of the Western Regions.

Everyone knew that this mighty Khan suffered from a hidden illness and had only one daughter, Princess Yue Qiluo, who had already married into the Tang Dynasty as an imperial concubine. All the other royal relatives had died in the battle against the Arab Empire's eastward expeditionary army.

The title of King of the Western Tang Dynasty, which was posthumously conferred upon the valiant Khan, could only be inherited by Princess Bilge Yueqiluo and her descendants.

Ironically, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an did this without allowing others to find fault with him, and he had to be grateful for the Emperor's and Heavenly Khan's boundless grace.

As expected, after hearing Chen Huai'an announce the contents of the first imperial edict from the throne, Ababakri, the young Uyghur general and commander of the royal guard, who was already in tears, was the first to step forward and kowtow to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

Led by Abba Bekri, the other exiled Uyghur civil and military officials who returned also kowtowed to Emperor Chen Huai'an in court, expressing their gratitude: "Thank you for your imperial grace, Your Majesty!"

Only on the face of the young prime minister, Lux, who exuded scholarly air and wisdom, did a fleeting look of helplessness and pity pass by.

In the end, he bowed and thanked everyone, saying, "Thank you for the Emperor's grace!"

On his throne, Chen Huai'an issued his second imperial edict: "After today's court assembly, immediately post imperial edicts in my name to all the Uyghur people and officials in exile, so that they may return home in peace."

"Furthermore, from this day forward, the people of the Uyghur Khanate who refuse to surrender to the enemy in the eastward expedition will enjoy the same tax policies as the subjects of the Tang Dynasty, and all taxes will be halved for the next five years;"

"The specific implementation of the policy will be carried out after the Uyghur Chancellor, Lukes, coordinates with the Ministry of Revenue of the Tang Dynasty!"

Wow!

Upon the issuance of this imperial edict, some of the Uyghur civil officials present finally noticed something amiss, and their expressions became rather ambiguous and complex.

However, no one dared to stand up and refute it.

Firstly, the surviving Uyghur civil and military officials were still immersed in grief over the death of the Great Khan and the near destruction of the Uyghur kingdom.

Secondly, as the Arab Empire's army launched its eastern expedition and launched a strong attack on the Uyghur Khanate, the Uyghur military force, which was already weak, had already been either killed or surrendered. In the vast Uyghur capital of Harabalgas, the total number of Uyghur soldiers was no more than a thousand.

If the Uyghur Khanate wanted to recuperate and restore its former status as the hegemon of the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, it could only and had to rely on the power of its suzerain state, the Tang Dynasty.

Furthermore, this Great Tang Emperor Chen Huai'an was also revered as the Heavenly Khan, the sovereign of the Western Regions;

They have always obeyed the Heavenly Khan's orders unconditionally.

On his throne, Chen Huai'an had neither the inclination nor the time to pay attention to the changing expressions of the Uyghur civil and military officials. He continued to issue commands: "My beloved ministers, now that I have temporarily stabilized the situation in the Uyghur capital, I need you all to pool your wisdom and efforts to discuss how to defeat the enemy that is launching an eastern expedition."

Then, Chen Huai'an asked Zhao Zilong in the main hall, "General Zhao, you were the first Tang general to arrive in the Uyghur capital, and you know far more about the enemy's situation in the east than I and the rest of you."

"Now, you will first introduce the situation of the Arab Empire's army that is on an eastward expedition!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Zhao Zilong, the commander of the Imperial Guard, immediately accepted the order. He then stepped into the hall and, without hesitation, said, "Your Majesty, according to the intelligence I have, the enemy forces besieging the Uyghur capital, Harabalgas, number a total of 200,000."

"Yesterday, after leading the Imperial Guard to the Uyghur capital, I briefly clashed with the besieging Arab army, annihilating over ten thousand enemy soldiers."

"However, most of the enemy troops have already retreated in an orderly manner to the three places of Black Tiger, Meijian, and Khatun!"

After a pause, Zhao Zilong continued, "According to the information I have gathered, the Arab troops who fled in haste from Princess City have also retreated to Black Tiger, Meijian, and Khatun!"

"Conservative estimates suggest that the total number of enemy troops still within Uyghur territory at this time exceeds 500,000!"

"The situation between our Great Tang Dynasty and the enemy in the Western Regions remains severe!"

Um!

On the throne, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an nodded calmly. The fact that the Arab Empire's army, which had launched its eastern expedition, was still unscathed was something he had expected.

Even more surprisingly, the total strength of the Arab Empire's army, which had retreated from Black Tiger, Meijian, and Qadun, far exceeded the 500,000 troops that Zhao Zilong had anticipated.

Chen Huai'an waved his hand, signaling Zhao Zilong to step back first.

Then, he turned his attention to Huo Qubing, the Marquis of Champion of the Tang Dynasty, who was ordered to lead his troops to seize the enemy's granary, and asked, "Marquis of Champion, tell everyone about the current situation of our Tang army in suppressing the rebellion in the Western Regions!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The young champion, Huo Qubing, still exuded a heroic spirit between his brows, and stood in the main hall of the Uyghur palace, speaking loudly:

"Your Majesty, the six kingdoms of Wusun, Chesha, Xiye, and Pishan—which are the enemy's supply depots and the supply routes connecting the Pamir Plateau with the Western Regions and Arabia—are now completely under the control of our Great Tang army."

"Furthermore, the rebel armies of the twelve kingdoms of Loulan, Cheshi, Gumo, Jingjue, and Beilu have all been annihilated by the Tang Dynasty's suppression forces. Our army is now assisting the loyalists of these twelve kingdoms in restoring their regimes and settling scores with those traitors who previously betrayed the Tang Dynasty and surrendered to the Arab Empire."

"In addition, there are seventeen other kingdoms in the Western Regions. Our Tang Dynasty's army is currently suppressing the rebellion and destroying the rebel regimes in those kingdoms. It is estimated that the situation in the entire Western Regions will be stabilized within a month at most!"

"good!"

Chen Huai'an praised Huo Qubing without reservation, which was not only an affirmation of Huo Qubing's leadership in quelling the rebellion in the Western Regions, but also a reassurance to the civil and military officials of the Uyghur Khanate present.

As expected, upon hearing the news brought by Marquis Huo Qubing, the Uyghur civil and military officials in the palace hall were all invigorated.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in the eyes of the young Uyghur prime minister, Lukes, who seemed to have already guessed the Khan's next big move in the Western Regions.

Chen Huai'an, seated on the throne, continued, "My beloved ministers, this time the Abbasid Caliphate to the west has launched an eastern expedition, reigniting hostilities among the Western Regions since I quelled the rebellion years ago, resulting in the tragic deaths of tens of millions of people in the Western Regions."

"I deeply apologize for this."

"but--"

Then, Chen Huai'an's tone shifted abruptly, becoming cold and sharp as he said sternly, "This mutiny in the Western Regions has also allowed me to see the true colors of many people."

"Since the Western Regions kingdoms submitted to the Tang Dynasty, I believe I have fulfilled my responsibilities as their suzerain state, granting them the greatest convenience and the lightest taxes in their trade and commerce along the Silk Road."

"But who would have thought that in this mutiny in the Western Regions, apart from the Uyghur Khanate, all thirty-five of the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions defected to the enemy, betraying their suzerain state, the Tang Dynasty, and instead turned to the Arab Empire, which was on an eastward expedition;"

"Not only that, after these thirty-five kingdoms of the Western Regions surrendered to the Arab Empire, they even turned on their former brotherly countries. In the Arab Empire's eastern expedition against the Uyghur Khanate, the number of vassal troops from the Western Regions who were affiliated with the Arab Empire's eastern expedition was no less than 100,000!"

After a pause, Chen Huai'an continued, "I have always been a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment, and rewards and punishments. My Great Tang Dynasty also has its own complete system of rewards and punishments for loyal vassal states and treacherous vassal states."

"I have decided, in accordance with the Great Tang Code, to take the following actions against the vassal states that have betrayed the Great Tang Dynasty—"

Whoosh!

Upon hearing this, everyone present, whether Tang soldiers or surviving Uyghur officials, couldn't help but prick up their ears to listen, eager to see how the Great Emperor and the Heavenly Khan planned to deal with those Western Region vassal states that had betrayed the Tang Dynasty.

Chen Huai'an said, "The existing regimes of the thirty-five kingdoms in the Western Regions, excluding the Uyghur Khanate, have all been overthrown, and the armies involved in the rebellion have been annihilated on the spot."

"From this day forward, until I personally quell this rebellion in the Western Regions, the thirty-five kingdoms that have betrayed the Tang Dynasty will no longer be allowed to possess their own armies. Instead, the Tang Dynasty will station troops there according to the existing military strength of each kingdom."

"During this rebellion in the Western Regions, from King Moyanchuo down to the soldiers defending the front lines, the Uyghur Khanate fought to the death for the dignity and glory of its suzerain state, the Great Tang. As the Emperor of the Great Tang, I am deeply gratified by this."

"My imperial decree—"

"From this day forward, by imperial decree, the Uyghur Khanate is established as the head of the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions. Given that the valiant Khan of the Uyghur Khanate has died for his country, and there is currently no new successor within the Uyghur kingdom, I, in my capacity as the Heavenly Khan of the Western Regions, will temporarily assume the duties of the Khan of the Uyghur Khanate until the next Khan of the Uyghur Khanate is determined."

"This imperial edict shall take effect immediately and shall be formalized into a decree to be promulgated throughout the land after the court session!"

"Court adjourned—"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

......

Inside the central command tent of the Arab Empire's eastern expeditionary army in the Black Tiger City of the Uyghurs.

After a sharp "bang," the angry shouts of Turhun, the Abbasid Caliph's general in the eastern expedition, echoed from inside the tent:

"That shameless Chen Huai'an, what right does he have to proclaim himself the Heavenly Khan, the supreme ruler of the Western Regions, and even claim to exercise rule over the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions? He really knows how to pat himself on the back!"

"Did he even ask if my Arab Empire's eastern expeditionary force agreed to this? Humph!"

Inside the central command tent, Turhun, the Arab general in charge of the eastern expedition, was furious. He repeatedly crumpled a piece of proclamation paper in his hands until it was a tattered ball, before angrily throwing the paper into the brazier inside the tent.

Indeed, the edict in Turhong's hand was the very edict and proclamation that Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Huai'an, had just issued in the capital of the Uyghur Khanate. It contained his plan for dealing with the thirty-five kingdoms in the Western Regions who had participated in the rebellion, as well as his decision to act as the Heavenly Khan in charge of the Western Regions from that day forward.

Of course, the proclamation also included Chen Huai'an's condemnation of the Arab Empire's invasion of the Western Regions!

This imperial edict was the fuse that ignited Turhong's raging anger.

In particular, after he withdrew his troops from Black Tiger City, and through repeated investigations by various scouts and spies, he learned that the Tang army that had gone to relieve the siege of the Uyghur Khanate's Princess City and capital, Halabalgas, was not the rumored million-strong force, but only a mere 500,000. This enraged Turhong even more.

It should be noted that the total strength of the Arab Empire's army besieging Princess City and the Uyghur capital, as well as the vassal armies of the thirty-five kingdoms of the Western Regions, exceeded 700,000!

Even now, the Arab Empire's army, which has retreated to the three cities of Black Tiger, Meijian, and Qatun, still numbers over 600,000.

If he were to fight the Tang army that came to the Princess City, Turhong might even have a chance to turn the tide and win!

Because of this incident, after retreating to Black Tiger City, he had already killed more than ten scout commanders and several messengers.